Cathedral

The city’s most obvious attraction is its colossal Cathedral, a gorgeous, battered, cream-coloured structure whose volcano-blackened turrets tower over the heart of León. Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the building was begun in 1747 and took more than a century to complete. You can climb up to the roof for stunning views across to the surrounding volcanoes. Inside, don’t miss the tomb of local hero Rubén Darío, Nicaragua’s most famous writer and poet, which is guarded by a statue of a mournful lion.